The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-15

thirty miles an hour-a good stiff topsail
breeze. There was n sea on, more
over, which ought to have
been good for the deeper ship;
and the previous experience, to say
nothing of her many trials in home waters
and while crossing the Atlantic, must have
taught her skipper and hands to find out
the very best trim OF the cutter. Briefly,
we cannot for a moment hesitate hat the
Thistle was beaten-and beaten hand
somely-upon her merits, and that the
Volunteer is the better and swifter racing
ship all round. We are very sorry, MS
Englishmen, TO have TO record her victory
for it was q gallant and an absorbing
contest-and we had all ardcntly hoped
that the Scotch cutter would bring the cup
home with her, and that many a year
would elapse before il was wrested from us
again|if ever. But we are beaten, and
the becoming thing is to acknowledge,
with all cordially and respect, the prowcss
and seamanship of ''our friend the enc
my" and to give him heartily all the
great credit of Il triumph which sets the
stars and stripes above the red "ensign,"
and stamps New York builders as at pres
cnt our superiors and teachers in the art Of
designing a fast craft.
Because of this defeat, however, We are
far from thinking that the Volunteer is
really Il better model than the Thistle.
She has proved herself II lectcr boat in
home waters, for which she was designed;
but the Scotch cutter would probably out
sail the American sloop in q long sea
voyage, when both were steadily raced.
The Volunteer, splendidly built of steel,
with three and n half feet of beam in cx-
an nf tho Tlfailnfu IraO 1 fan faat nf
water, but lets down into the sea q false
keel or center-board, giving her noarly
nine feet more draught. This big ventral
fin, convenient rs il is to hoist up when
running, and serviceable TO hold her to
windwurd when beating, can never be
thought ship-shapc or scananlike. II cuts
the cabin up below, is liable TO jam and
wrench, and could only be popular upon
shallow waters. The Thistle's fourteen
feet of solid bilgc and kcel-albeit it did
not win the race for her-must appear more
shiphke and generally suitable, for which
reason among many Others il was heartily
To be wished that she had won. Yet those
who take u real interest in pleasure fleets
may rejoice that we have borrowed the
element OF plenty of beam from the Amer
leans. In this important point the Thistle
compares most favorably with the Trek,
Gencsta and other lean bodied craft Mt
| home, of which We have constructed too
many. Mr.. Bells cutter, by her success
here and by her good performances in New
York waters, has proved that beam, which
| gives comfort and steadiness at sea, can be
perfectly well harmonized with fine lines
and great speed. We should be sorry, in
deed, il the victory Of the flying VOlun-
tcer-which, after all, is more like a spoon
than a boat in ~shape-caused our designers
at home despair Of the beautiful
models to which they have brought their
art. II is quite possible that the splendid
vessel We sent across wa ~over-sparred and
-oyer-canvasscd; the way in which she
buried herself in the sea seems 10 indicate
this, although she is naturally no dry and
buoyant a craft that until this race Capt.
Barr declared he had never seen a bucket
Of green water come over her weather
bows. She IL defeated, but not disgraced;
indeed, we should IKE nothing better than
TO see her repeat the challenge next year,
for, with wings less prodigious and steadieI
weather, We believe she might still redeem
the honor Of u yachting tiags and bring
the coveted cup away from Sandy Hook.